A suggestion has been made by one NBA writer for the Cleveland Cavaliers to acquire Damian Lillard from the Milwaukee Bucks during the upcoming summer.
Fran Leiva of Fadeaway World proposed the following trade idea between the Cavaliers and Bucks:
Potential Trade Offer For Damian Lillard: Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, 2031 first-round pick
Lillard, who averaged 24.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 7.0 assists for the Bucks this season with shooting percentages of 42.4% from the field, 35.4% from beyond the arc, and 92.0% from the free-throw line, is set to earn $48.8 million next season.
“Securing Lillard would not only mean gaining a proven playoff performer for Cleveland but also potentially increasing their appeal to retain Donovan Mitchell by pairing him with another elite scorer,” wrote Leiva. “The trade could address both teams’ needs: Milwaukee could reboot with younger, capable players while managing their salary cap, and Cleveland could strengthen their roster to better compete in the challenging Eastern Conference landscape. This strategic exchange would be a significant move for both franchises, aiming to optimize their current assets and future prospects.”
The Bucks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in six games. Lillard played in four games and averaged 31.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists.
Lillard, one of the best scorers and shooters in NBA history, holds career averages of 25.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.7 assists with the Portland Trail Blazers and Bucks. He has earned eight All-Star selections and seven All-NBA team honors.
Should the Cavaliers acquire Lillard, it’s likely that Mitchell would sign an extension this summer. The shooting guard can sign an extension for up to four years and around $200 million during this offseason. He holds a player option worth $37 million for the 2025-26 season.
Mitchell could become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025 if he declines that player option. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, there’s a growing belief that the Cavaliers will be forced to trade Mitchell if an extension isn’t reached.
During the 2023-24 regular season, Mitchell averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists with shooting percentages of 46.2% from the field, 36.8% from beyond the arc, and 86.5% from the free-throw line.